General Hardware Requirements

In order to use this tutorial, you obviously need a computer with Internet access, otherwise you wouldn't be able to see this site. Your computer needs to have a graphical browser (one that shows pictures as well as text) that can handle Java applets, JavaScript, tables and frames. Below is an applet to test you browser's applet compatiblity:

This applet, by Andrea Fasce at www.anfyteam.com, is that of a spinning galaxy. If it looks relatively normal to you, then you should be ok.

Software Requirements

You will need to download the most recent JDK (Java Development Kit) for your particular operating system, and possibly some small utility programs. We will go into detail about how to do this in the following pages.

Previous Knowledge Requirements

Since this is a beginners tutorial, you do not need to start with any programming experience at all. However, you do need to know a few things about computers. You need to know how to open and save files. You need to have run other programs (even if it's just your word processor and solitaire.) You need to know how to get around the screen, use a mouse, the keyboard, etc. You need to know how to download files from the Internet, find them on your computer, and run them or extract them. If you don't understand these basics about computers, you're probably not ready to learn a computer programming language. You should read you computer's manuals, get a good book on using the Internet, and practice running some programs that require file opening and saving. Then come back and give Java a whirl.

Other than that, all you need it time, patience, and a driving will to learn.